Wotts On the Making Of “be kind”
Can you share any interesting or unique musical elements or production techniques used in "be kind?"
Since we took inspiration from shoegaze bands on this one, we really went crazy with running stuff through guitar pedals and amps to see what sounds it would produce. I’m talking synths, vocals, and even parts of the drums. For the bass, we actually recorded it on guitar with an octave pedal. Most people won’t pick up on things like that when they listen, but for us, it was really cool to embrace not doing things the ‘right way’.
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "be kind?"
So far, all of our songs have started with either a vocal or synth melody. I’m embarrassed to admit this but those usually come when I’m doing chores or something monotonous. I remember coming up with the main melody while I was doing dishes, so I had to bolt to my Juno to lay it down while it was still fresh. That triggered a million other ideas and the rest is history. If I remember it right, I think we wrapped this one in a day or two.
What did you enjoy most about making "be kind?"
I think it goes back to what I mentioned up top about throwing out our normal approach and just chucking chaos into the mix. It was nice to get out of our comfort zone and the whole experience will probably help us be more open-minded when we lay down tracks in the future.
How did your band members initially come together?
We met when we were in different bands and kept running into each other around the city. Rick’s as cool as they come and when I was looking to start this project I couldn’t think of a more talented and chill person to work with. That was around the start of the pandemic and we’ve been a team ever since.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a band, and how did you overcome them?
Being a DIY band the most challenging thing has been learning how to do everything on our own. We literally started from zero. Every day I wish we could just write and record and leave the rest of it to professionals, but here we are choosing pain instead! I think we’re getting more comfortable though, but we couldn’t have done that without hours and hours of research and lots of trial and error.
